Greenville, Rhode Island -- Mater Ecclesiae College (MEC) celebrated a major
milestone April 21, 2012, with the opening of its new
library.

Featuring MEC’s ever-growing collection
of books, ample study space, computers, offices for professors, and
two conference rooms, the modern facility promises to be a
focal point for study and research on the campus.

Long in planning, an improved
library became necessary when the former formation center in Rhode
Island – now Mater Ecclesiae College – embarked on the
path to accreditation as a college. After years of fundraising and planning, ground was broken
on May 1, 2010, and the construction process began soon
after. The building was completed earlier this year, and at
long last the official inauguration ceremony took place this month.

The ceremony was

attended by the students, faculty, staff, and board members of
Mater Ecclesiae College, along with other members of the community.
Bishop Louis Gelineau, bishop emeritus of Providence, presided at a
Mass and blessing of the library. In his homily, Bishop
Gelineau reminded everyone that at the groundbreaking ceremony he had
teasingly said that he expected to see the new building
in two weeks.

“They paid no attention to me and it took two
years!” he joked. Nevertheless, the bishop was pleased to be
present for the opening of the library, which he said
will “help the graduates of this college on their way
to do great work for the world.”

At the ceremony, MEC president Dr.
Deb Bauer gave a brief speech thanking and congratulating everyone
who had made the library possible, and bringing to mind
the purpose of the library: the preparation of consecrated women
for the New Evangelization. MEC senior Rebecca Olek followed, with
words that also recalled the ultimate purpose of the library.

The MEC library contains ample study space

She shared a poem that had hung in her grade
school:

Be it
known to all who enter here

That Christ is
the reason for this school;

The unseen but ever-present

Teacher in its classes,

The model of its faculty,

The
inspiration of its students.

After the ceremony, everyone was invited to a tour of
the library by the students. Many congratulations were offered to
Naoise Johnston, a consecrated woman who has been involved in
the accreditation process for 8 years and is currently the
librarian at MEC.

Naoise says that the new library “is significant for the
future because it’s not just for current students, but it
will also serve future consecrated members and others who may
study at MEC. The Church needs women who are well-formed
intellectually, and hopefully this library is just the beginning of
something that can be a significant resource for that.”

“After watching
the whole process, step by step, I’m excited that it’s
finally here,” says junior Silvia Canales. “We really appreciate the
space to study, especially in a place that lends itself
so well to reflection.”

According
to Pope Benedict XVI, “education is not and must never
be considered as purely utilitarian. It is about forming the
human person, equipping him or her to live life to
the full – in short it is about imparting wisdom.”
This higher meaning of education is never far from the
minds of MEC students and faculty, and all hope that
their new library will help serve this purpose!